At Least Two Dead After Strong Earthquake Strikes Western Iran

At least two people were killed and more than 240 others were injured after an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 and at least two strong aftershocks struck western Iran, local media report.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah Province early on August 26.

Two aftershocks measuring above 4.0 on the Richter scale were also reported in the area.

Reports said the town of Tazehabad was the worst hit and that rescue teams were on their way there.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, hundreds of kilometers further west, according to Iraqi state television. However, no injuries were reported there.

More than 240 people are reported injured in the quake.

Saeb Sharidari, the head of the emergency department at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, said the dead included a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack. He added that six of the injured were in critical condition.

Kermanshah Governor Houshang Bazvand said that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages.

And the provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, warned there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages.

However, the situation was “under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighboring provinces, said Reza Mahmoudian, the provincial director-general of crisis management.

Iran is often hit by damaging earthquakes as it sits on major fault lines.

In November, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit villages and towns in Kermanshah Province along the mountainous border with Iraq, killing at least 620 people and injuring thousands of others.

And in 2003, a 6.6-magnitude quake destroyed the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, IRNA, Mehr, and AFP

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